# Bac Ninh and Quang Ninh granted centrally‑run city status > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bc-ninh-city-and-economic-zone-development > Updated: 2026-08-01T10:54:00.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 10. In early August 2026 the Interior Ministry moved the city‑creation plan forward. Minister Nguyen Tiến Hai presented to the National Assembly a proposal that both provinces meet all five legal criteria of the 2025 Local Government Law and the seven standards required for centrally‑run city status. The draft sets Quang Ninh’s city establishment for 1 September, covering 6 231.27 km², 1.52 million people and 54 commune‑level units; Bac Ninh’s for 20 September, covering 4 713.75 km², about 3.99 million people and 99 units. Both areas are highlighted for strategic border and transport positions and for strong economic performance – together they contribute roughly 2.87 % of national GRDP and have attracted about $17 billion in FDI projects. The National Assembly is slated to vote on the resolutions, which will formalise the new city administrations while retaining existing public assets and personnel. This follows the Politburo’s June endorsement of a Type I smart‑city master plan, the 3rd Central Committee’s approval in July, and the Government’s Resolution 205/NQ‑CP on 1 August that tasked the Ministry of Interior with preparing the National Assembly dossier. The reforms remain central to Vietnam’s goal of 65 % urbanisation by 2030 and the broader 2045 development vision. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-01: Vietnam approves creation of centrally administered Bac Ninh city Vietnam’s government approved a plan to make Bac Ninh a centrally administered city, focusing on green, smart development and high‑tech industries. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-approves-creation-of-centralgovernmentrun-bac-ninh-city ### 2026-07-24: Vietnam approves centrally-governed city status for Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh Vietnam’s Communist Party approved upgrading Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh to centrally‑governed cities, targeting higher growth, green smart development, and stronger regional governance. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-approves-centrally-governed-city-status-for-quang-ninh-and-bac-ninh ### 2026-07-24: Vietnam Communist Party appoints new interior minister and approves new cities at 3rd Central Committee meeting Vietnam's Communist Party 3rd Central Committee meeting (July 2026) appointed Nguyễn Tiến Hai as interior minister, approved the creation of Quảng Ninh and Bắc Ninh cities, adopted new Party rules and prepared. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-party-central-committee-approves-new-cities-quang-ninh-and-bac-ninh ### 2026-07-13: Bac Ninh Province Advances Toward Central‑Government City Status Bac Ninh province held a July 13 meeting on its proposal to become a central‑government city, with 99% public approval; documents have been submitted for national appraisal, aiming to boost the province’s role 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bac-ninh-province-advances-toward-centralgovernment-city-status ### 2026-07-09: Bac Ninh to become Vietnam's first centrally‑run high‑tech smart city Vietnam approved a master plan to transform Bac Ninh into a centrally‑run Type I smart city, aiming for up to 10 million residents by 2075 and focusing on semiconductors, AI and multimodal logistics. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bac-ninh-to-become-vietnams-first-centrallyrun-hightech-smart-city ### 2026-07-06: Bac Ninh Province Advances Plan to Become a Central‑government City Bac Ninh province is finalising a plan to become a centrally‑run city, citing its large population, industrial base, and meeting statutory criteria, with public consultations set for July 2026. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bac-ninh-province-advances-plan-to-become-a-centralgovernment-city ### 2026-06-27: Bac Ninh to become Vietnam’s newest centrally-administered city, highlighted by 240‑billion‑dong Quan Ho theatre Vietnam’s Politburo approved turning Bac Ninh into a centrally‑run city; its Quan Ho Folk Song Theatre, built 2016‑2020 at over 240 bn VND, showcases UNESCO‑listed folk music but now shows wear. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bac-ninh-to-become-vietnams-newest-centrally-administered-city-highlighted-by-240billiondong-quan-ho ### 2026-06-25: Bắc Ninh to host major e‑commerce logistics hub Bắc Ninh officials and leading couriers plan a 67‑ha e‑commerce logistics hub, integrating warehousing, customs and transport links to boost northern Vietnam’s trade. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bc-ninh-to-host-major-ecommerce-logistics-hub ### 2026-06-23: Bac Ninh to become Vietnam's ninth centrally‑run city Vietnam's Politburo approved upgrading Bac Ninh to a centrally‑run city, targeting a green, smart urban model and a high‑tech electronics hub, making it the country's ninth such city. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-approves-creation-of-bc-ninh-city-under-central-government ### 2026-06-10: Bắc Ninh to create 5,000‑ha free‑trade zone linked to Gia Bình airport Bắc Ninh province approved a plan for a 5,000‑ha free‑trade zone linked to Gia Bình Airport, targeting 11‑13% GRDP growth, new transport links, and a 10,000‑ha high‑tech economic zone. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bc-ninh-to-create-5000ha-freetrade-zone-linked-to-gia-bnh-airport --- Cite as: Bac Ninh and Quang Ninh granted centrally‑run city status. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bc-ninh-city-and-economic-zone-development